Draft:Annagail

Annagail (formerly Route 3) is an American Americana/folk duo based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The group was formed in 2007 and consists of singer/songwriters Jared Adams (vocals, mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, banjo, keys, percussion, harmonica, drums) and Sparrow Adams (vocals, piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, tin whistle, bass, mandolin). Over the last 2 decades, the group has toured and performed throughout the U.S, Europe and South Africa.

Annagail has produced 3 albums. 2 EPs and a single of original works of American roots and folk-rock music with pop-rock overtones. They continue to write, record and perform at various venues including colleges, bars, coffeehouses, listening rooms, festivals and theaters. They have also performed regularly at the Amway River Bank Run.

Most recently they were a part of High Plains Public Radio's "Ambassador Tour " which featured artists and bands long supported by the station, its DJ's and affiliates. The tour, which spanned the Midwest, was to help raise awareness for public radio, access to the arts and the benefits public radio provides.

Style
Their style is a combination of co-leading vocals and harmony, often employing counterpoint melody over acoustically driven music. Their more recent albums have also found Jennifer writing and recording more on piano. Annagail's harmony driven albums cover multiple genres, often utilizing electronic flourishes over rootsy instrumentation. Co-lead and songwriter Jared Adams has said the band "lives somewhere between the Foo Fighters and Emmylou Harris."

History
They have opened for many acts over the years including YAM Haus, The Appleseed Cast, Plumb, Pillar, Bleach, Superhero, Jason Ingram, Satellite Soul, Christopher Williams, Jennifer Knapp, Ellery, VOTA, Valentiger and others.

2021 brought the release of two albums, 'Home' and "Baby, It's You," with both albums largely written during quarantine. Another studio album is underway along with the release of their first live album recorded with a full 5 piece band at the listening room, Seven Steps Up, in Spring Lake, MI.

Jared was featured in ''Empty Spaces', a documentary series by Live Music Society highlighting the pandemic's effect on venues, like Seven Steps Up, across the nation that included, Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20, Seth Glier, Albert Lee, Alice Peacock, Glen Phillips, Alan Parsons and Bill Chrysler and many more. More personal songs are included on the most recent albums, produced by DJ Eichenberg for Silverback Sound. Works include the albums "Home" and "Baby It's You", as well as a 36-minute mini-documentary/short film "Holy Ghost and Whiskey ". Several of Jennifer's songs in particular lyrically deal with raising awareness regarding domestic violence. Austin, TX based singer/songwriter and musician BettySoo plays accordion on 'Parade' from the album 'Baby, It's You.'

Jennifer was a part of a 2021 International Women's Day tribute to Aretha Franklin: An all-female Michigan super-group released a "Respect" cover and video. The Michigan Music Alliance called it an "all-female jubilee of joyful sounds offering homage to Michigan's own 'Queen of Soul.'"

Annagail was one of several bands featured in the January 2014 edition of CCM magazine. Their 2010 EP, The Cabin Sessions, produced and recorded in Nashville with 2001 Songwriter of the Year (ASCAP) Keith Follesé. (Lady Antebellum, Faith Hill, Katy Perry, Emerson Drive) lead to several opportunities. This included a commercial airplay release and working closely with producer and director Brad Allen and Chuck Howard formally of Curb Records with 2 of the tracks appearing in the feature film 'Decision' starring CCM vocalist Natalie Grant and country artist, Billy Dean). Included in the film were the Annagail songs: 'Beautiful Irony' and' If All I Had.'

"Linger In Bloom " was the first official Annagail album and included a mix of song's penned by both Jared and Jennifer and included musicians Dan Foreman, (bass, vocals) and Tim Maloney (drums, trumpet, percussion). This release was recorded and produced by Don Chaffer (Sara Groves, Charlie Hall, Maeve, This Holiday Life, The Voice I and II) and engineered by Greg Lafollette and mixed by Russ Long of Wilco, Over the Rhine, Newsboys, Sixpence None The Richer and Dolly Parton at Culture House Studios in Kansas City, KS.

Before name change
Prior to Annagail's emergence, Jared Adams was the principle songwriter for Route 3, which began as a duo with Kyle Hager, formed in their hometown of Dodge City, KS. It grew to a 4 piece band that included Adams on vocals and lead guitar along with musicians, Hager (vocals, guitar), Alan Shalby (bass, vocals), and Joe Walker (drums, vocals). A line up change later led to the band consisting of Adams, Walker, Alan Stukenholtz (guitar, vocals), Brian Goodell (bass) and Chad Mickey (bass, cello).

They performed extensively throughout the Midwest and released 3 albums between 1994 and 1998. "The Folks," and "Renaissance Recital," both recorded and produced by Alan Shalby of California's 'The Corsairs ' fame for Big Round Records in Dodge City, KS and "Slightly Certain," produced by Don Chaffer of Waterdeep at One Will Studios in Lawrence, KS. Lori Chaffer also lent vocals to the track "The Enemy and the Avenger." Don Chaffer played cello on the album as well as former Waterdeep guitarist and producer, John Flynn adding electric guitar to a few tracks. The album was later picked up by Grassroots Music Distribution. It received Midwestern airplay at the time.

Via their email newsletter, In late 2007, the band announced that moving forward, they would change the name from Route 3 to Annagail.

Between Route 3 and the official formation of Annagail, Jared Adams also toured extensively and recorded as part of Satellite Soul on Ardent/Forefront Records. Playing lead guitar and later bass guitar, they kept a busy schedule performing nationwide playing with many of the top acts in the CCM market. They shared billing with many artists such as the Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Skillet, Smalltown Poets, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others. They toured with Big Tent Revival, Jennifer Knapp, Eli, Clear, Jason Ingram, Mitch McVicker, and others.

Albums

 * The Folks (1994)
 * Renaissance Recital (1995)
 * Slightly Certain (1998)
 * Linger In Bloom (2007)
 * Home (2021)
 * Baby, It's You (2021)

EPs

 * The Subtle Sessions (2000)
 * Rosie's Song (2008)
 * The Cabin Sessions (2010)

Compilations

 * Integrity Management Sampler
 * Globe Vision
 * We Are The World II (CCM Exclusive Release)

Video

 * Holy Ghost and Whiskey (Short Film)